As Ontario’s population ages, community-based solutions are more urgent than ever. Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) offer a powerful, cost-effective way to help older adults age safely and independently in their own homes, surrounded by community.

At CHATS – Community & Home Assistance to Seniors, we are proud to be a regional leader in advancing NORCs across York Region and South Simcoe. With more than 45 years of experience supporting older adults and caregivers, CHATS is already delivering integrated services in buildings and neighbourhoods where seniors live in high concentration. We see firsthand how NORC-based programs improve health outcomes, prevent hospitalizations, reduce social isolation, and keep seniors thriving in place.

About Oasis: A Made-in-Ontario Success Story

The Oasis Senior Supportive Living Program was co-created in 2011 by older adults living in a Kingston apartment building, in partnership with local community organizations and researchers at Queen’s University. Over time, the program evolved into a research-backed model for aging in place, emphasizing three pillars:

• Nutrition (shared meals and food access),
• Physical activity, and
• Social engagement.

Researchers including Drs. Catherine Donnelly and Vincent DePaul from the Queen’s School of Rehabilitation Therapy have helped expand Oasis to multiple communities across Ontario. Their work has shown that with minimal infrastructure and the right supports, NORCs like Oasis can reduce loneliness, improve health outcomes, and delay the need for institutional care.

CHATS + Housing York Inc. + Queen’s University: Bringing Oasis to York Region & South Simcoe

Building on the Oasis model’s success, CHATS is proud to be partnering with Queen’s University to explore the adoption of a similar NORC-based approach in our service regions. This collaboration will help us co-design a scalable model rooted in community needs, academic evidence, and the lived experiences of older adults.

Together, we aim to build on the pillars of Oasis while tailoring programs to the unique realities of York Region and South Simcoe’s aging population.

Grounded in Local and National Leadership

Our work complements the efforts of grassroots advocates like Seniors for Social Action Ontario (SSAO) and long-time NORC supporter Tony Van Bynen, former MP for Newmarket–Aurora. Their leadership has brought NORCs into national conversations around healthy aging and funding reform.

As the waitlist for long-term care surpasses 48,000 and hospitals remain strained, NORCs represent a ready, scalable solution to help older adults live well at home.

Our Call to Action

To realize the full potential of this model, we urge policymakers and system leaders to:

• Recognize NORCs as a cornerstone of Ontario’s aging-in-place strategy
• Provide sustainable funding for organizations like CHATS delivering NORC services
• Support partnerships between researchers and community agencies to evaluate and expand proven models like Oasis

CHATS is ready to lead the way in York Region and South Simcoe.

Kelly Broome
Vice President, Philanthropy & Communications
CHATS-Community & Home Assistance to Seniors